Press arrangement with a further processing module

Abstract

A press arrangement and a method for producing and processing compacts from powder material include a controller, a press frame, a pressing unit being disposed on the press frame for pressing the compact and having a die with a cavity for receiving powder material, at least two punches which, together with the cavity, provide a mold for a compact and at least one drive unit for moving at least one punch relative to the other punch along a pressing axis. A further processing module has at least one processing unit for machining a compact by metal cutting. The controller at least partially ejects or removes a compact from the die after pressing and, after the ejection holds the compact clamped between the punches. The controller uses the processing unit to process a compact being at least partially ejected from the die and held clamped between the punches.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A press arrangement for producing and processing compacts formed of powder material, the press arrangement comprising:
 a press frame; 
 a pressing unit disposed on said press frame for pressing a compact from powder material, said pressing unit having a pressing axis, a die with a cavity for receiving powder material, at least two punches providing a mold for a compact together with said cavity, and at least one drive unit for moving at least one of said punches relative to at least another of said punches along said pressing axis; 
 a further processing module having at least one processing unit at least one of drilling, milling or grinding an unsintered compact, said at least one processing unit having a drilling unit, a milling unit, a grinding unit or a tool carrier; and 
 a controller at least partially electing an unsintered compact from said die after a pressing operation and holding said unsintered compact clamped between said at least two punches after the at least partial ejection; 
 said controller using said at least one processing unit to machine an unsintered compact being at least partially ejected from said die and held clamped between said at least two punches. 
 
     
     
       2. The press arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said further processing module is disposed on said press frame. 
     
     
       3. The press arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said further processing module has a manipulator with a working end, and said at least one processing unit is disposed at said working end. 
     
     
       4. The press arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said further processing module has at least one guide unit for advancing said at least one processing unit to a clamped compact. 
     
     
       5. The press arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said further processing module has a first guide unit for moving said at least one processing unit in a first direction and a second guide unit for moving said at least one processing unit in a second direction not being parallel to said first direction. 
     
     
       6. The press arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein said second direction is perpendicular to said first direction. 
     
     
       7. The press arrangement according to  claim 5 , wherein said further processing module has a third guide unit for moving said at least one processing unit in a third direction not being parallel to said first and second directions. 
     
     
       8. The press arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein said third direction is perpendicular to said first and second directions. 
     
     
       9. The press arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said further processing module has a pivot joint for pivoting said at least one processing unit about a pivot axis. 
     
     
       10. The press arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein said pivot axis is perpendicular to said pressing axis. 
     
     
       11. The press arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said further processing module has a rotation platform mounted on said press frame and being rotatable about said pressing axis, said at least one processing unit being disposed on said rotation platform. 
     
     
       12. The press arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one processing unit is at least two processing units configured to be advanced to a compact. 
     
     
       13. The press arrangement according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least two processing units are two processing units disposed diagonally or symmetrically opposite each other relative to said pressing axis. 
     
     
       14. The press arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least two processing units has a first guide unit, a second guide unit, a third guide unit, and at least one of a rotation guide or a pivoting joint for advancing said at least two processing units independently of one another to a clamped compact. 
     
     
       15. The press arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said further processing module has at least one common guide unit for moving said at least two processing units jointly in one direction, and each of said at least two processing units has at least one of a rotation guide or a pivoting joint for advancing said at least two processing units independently of one another to a clamped compact. 
     
     
       16. The press arrangement according to  claim 4 , which further comprises a handling device disposed on said press frame or on said guide unit and having at least one gripper for gripping a compact. 
     
     
       17. The press arrangement according to  claim 16 , which further comprises an actuator device for advancing said at least one gripper to a compact clamped between said punches. 
     
     
       18. The press arrangement according to  claim 17 , which further comprises an arm being at least one of pivotable or extendable, said at least one gripper being disposed on said arm. 
     
     
       19. A method for producing and processing compacts formed of powder material, the method comprising the following steps:
 pouring a powder material into a cavity of a die; 
 pressing the powder material by using at least two punches in a direction of a pressing axis to form a compact; 
 at least partially ejecting the unsintered compact from the cavity, while holding the unsintered compact clamped between the at least two punches; and 
 at least one of drilling, milling or grinding the unsintered compact by using at least one processing unit while the compact is held clamped between the at least two punches, the at least one processing unit having a drilling unit, a milling unit, a grinding unit or a tool carrier. 
 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 19 , which further comprises:
 ejecting the compact by moving the die downward or moving the at least two punches upward; or 
 ejecting the compact by moving the die upward or moving the at least two punches downward. 
 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 19 , which further comprises, after the machining, carrying out the following steps:
 moving at least one of the two punches away from the compact; 
 gripping the compact by using a handling device with grippers; and removing the compact by using the handling device.